Domain types
All domains in a report are assigned a domain type. This is based on which part of the backlinks ecosystem they are found in, and their relationship with the principal domain.
Core domain types
Principal
The principal (often client) domain in the analysis.
In ecosystem visualisations where nodes are coloured by domain type, this type is represented as a white node.
Competitor
A competitor domain, identified at the start of the analysis.
In ecosystem visualisations where nodes are coloured by domain type, this type is represented as a red triangle node.
Inner ecosystem domain types
Principal referrer
A domain with one or more links to the principal domain (a backlinks referral relationship) but NOT to any competitor domains.
In ecosystem visualisations where nodes are coloured by domain type, this type is represented as a bright green node.
Shared referrer
A domain with one or more links to the principal domain (a backlinks referral relationship) AND one or more competitor domains.
In ecosystem visualisations where nodes are coloured by domain type, this type is represented as a deep blue node.
Competitor shared referrer
A domain with one or more links to TWO or more competitor domains (these are backlinks referral relationships), but NOT the principal domain.
In ecosystem visualisations where nodes are coloured by domain type, this type is represented as a pink node.
Competitor referrer
A domain with one or more links to ONE competitor domain (a backlinks referral relationship), but NOT the principal domain.
In ecosystem visualisations where nodes are coloured by domain type, this type is represented as an orange node.
Outer ecosystem domain types
Obscured (distance 2)
A domain that is not any of the inner ecosystem domain types, or disavowed, but has a distance of 2 from the principal domain in the graph of links relationships for the ecosystem.
In ecosystem visualisations where nodes are coloured by domain type, this type is represented as a light grey node.
Multi-obscured (distance 2)
An obscured (distance 2) domain that has links relationships with at least TWO inner ecosystem domains (including at least one principal referrer or shared referrer).
In ecosystem visualisations where nodes are coloured by domain type, this type is represented as a cyan node.
Obscured
A domain that is not any of the inner ecosystem domain types, or disavowed, and has a distance of 3 or more from the principal domain in the graph of links relationships for the ecosystem.
In ecosystem visualisations where nodes are coloured by domain type, this type is represented as a dark grey node.
Other domain types
Disavowed
A disavowed domain has been 'disavowed' with Google (so links from it to the principal domain are not considered in the calculation of rankings). These domains may have one or more links to the principal domain (a backlinks referral relationship), but may also be disconnected from the principal domain (as they no longer have any links to it).
In ecosystem visualisations where nodes are coloured by domain type, this type is represented as a grey triangle node.
Visualising domain types
In the report interactive, both Quick analysis > Ecosystem and Explore further > Core attributes > Domain type re-colour all domains to indicate their domain type.
Viewing Domain types
All worksheets in the data tables (MS Excel file) for a report that list domains contain a
Domain type column to indicate the domain's type.